In Cagayan, Spencer repeatedly found himself in the role of underdog. He started on the dysfunctional Luzon tribe, before gaining temporary control of the game after the tribe switch. His luck soured once again after the merge, after the betrayal of his ally, Kass McQuillen, which eventually left him and his only other strong ally Tasha Fox at the bottom. However, Tony Vlachos, a member of the new majority alliance, was willing to work with Spencer on two separate occasions to take out threats in his own alliance, helping to advance Spencer to the Final Four. After failing to win immunity at that stage, he was unanimously voted out for being the largest jury threat. He also turned out to be a fan favorite, becoming one of the more popular contestants from his season.

Returning in Survivor: Cambodia, Spencer experienced something of a reversal of fortune, as he often found himself in a position of power and formed a dominant alliance in collaboration with Jeremy Collins and his Cagayan ally Tasha. This and his impressive challenge performances took him to the Final Tribal Council. However, his perceived arrogance and his error in aligning with the extremely popular Jeremy caused him to lose the title of Sole Survivor to the latter in a unanimous vote.

Contents

Profile

Retrieved from CBS.com

Name (Age): Spencer Bledsoe (21)Tribe Designation:LuzonCurrent Residence: Chicago, Ill.Occupation: Economics Student at the University of ChicagoPersonal Claim to Fame: Captain of my high school cross country and track teams, Georgia's 2009-2010 High School Chess Champion, tying for 1st at the World Open Chess tournament for a prize of $6,609 and becoming a U.S. Chess Expert.Inspiration in Life: The former governor Mitt Romney has been successful in everything he's ever attempted, be it private equity, business/law school or running the Olympics. He has accumulated enormous wealth in starting several successful business ventures and constitutes the perfect embodiment of capitalism.Hobbies: Chess, ultimate frisbee and partying.Pet Peeves: People who are stupid but still voice their opinions, incompetent leaders, those who don't respect intelligence and those who expect handouts in life.3 Words to Describe You: Brilliant, competitive and arrogant.If You Could Have 3 Things on The Island What Would They Be and Why? A chess board – with a chess board present, I know I have the ability to impress whoever I'm with. Regular practice is also important. The American Flag – perhaps my biggest source of pride is being an American; and The Economist – This is my preferred news source (despite the fact that it's perceived as "snobbish").SURVIVOR Contestant You Are Most Like: The cleverness and strategic planning of Stephen Fishbach, but the personality of Marty Piombo. Like Marty, I am a natural leader and can come off as pompous or bombastic. Also, I shared Marty's disdain for Jane on S21.Reason for Being on SURVIVOR: The competition. I'm insanely competitive in chess, pursuing a career in investment banking, and everything I do. I want to play the game of Survivor for the challenge, the competition and the chance to prove myself in such an epic game, under such trying circumstances. Also, the money. The expected value of playing Survivor is, monetarily alone, worth more than most peoples' salaries. I love $1,000,000 almost as much as winning.Why You Think You'll "Survive" SURVIVOR: I'm a strong leader despite my young age, and have worked well in a team in a number of different academic, athletic and chess-related capacities. I'm also extremely competitive and would be a large asset to a tribe in puzzles and endurance-related challenges, as well as strategic competitions.Why You Think You Will Be the Sole Survivor: I'm the chess expert who can plan my victory 10 moves in advance. I can use economic game theory to know the incentives of those around me. I'm the only guy who has these skills and is still personable enough to win. Think of me as a John Cochran who doesn't suck.Do You Consider Yourself a Brain, a Beauty or a Brawn? A Brain, in both life and Survivor super fandom. I've seen every episode. I know the game inside and out. I'll know what I'm doing in camp life; I could probably even build a shelter just using rocks. When my body is withered and I'm left with only my t-shirt and tighty whities, I won't be a little boy out there. I'll rely on my mind.Who Do You Think Has the Best Chance in the Game of Survivor: Brains, Beauty or Brawn? What type of person excels in Survivor? The person who pushes the game forward strategically - the Rob Cesternino, Yul Kwon or Todd Herzog. A Parvati or Ozzy may slip through the cracks, but this is a brain game.[3]

Season:Survivor: CagayanPrevious Finish: 4th placeWhat will you do differently this time around? "I was an underdog of Charlie Brown proportions when I first played Survivor, and I wasn't as skilled as I thought I'd be. With a second chance, I'll focus more on the people around me and less on getting lost in my own head. I'm still the same Survivor-obsessed super geek, but instead of relying on being a student of the game, I'll get far this time via better genuine relationships. It's time for Charlie Brown to bust out of the peanut gallery and walk the walk."[4]

Survivor

Cagayan

Spencer started out on the Luzon (dubbed the "Brains") tribe. After the tribe lost the inaugural Immunity Challenge, Spencer joined the majority of the tribe in voting David Samson out. Following that Tribal Council, Spencer joined an alliance with Garrett Adelstein and Kass McQuillen to vote out the weakest of the tribe, J'Tia Taylor. However, after Luzon's second straight loss, Kass sided with the women, blindsiding Garrett, and leaving Spencer on the outs. When Luzon lost immunity again on Day 11, Spencer was immediately targeted by the women's alliance. However, Spencer pleaded with Kass and Tasha Fox to keep him in favor of J'Tia, who had cost them victory in almost every challenge. Despite some hesitance to do so, both women decided to keep Spencer for his strength and voted out J'Tia.

The next day, a tribe switch occurred, sending Spencer (along with Tasha and Kass) to the new Aparri tribe. Here, Spencer found himself in a powerful position due to the distrust between the original Solana members. At Aparri's only Tribal Council, Spencer voted out Alexis Maxwell and later made the merge on Day 18. Although the new Aparri Alliance entered the merge with six members as opposed to Solana's five, Spencer was concerned over Sarah Lacina's loyalty due to her previous affiliation with Tony Vlachos. However, Sarah stayed loyal to Spencer's alliance and joined him in voting against Jefra Bland. Unfortunately, Kass decided to join the new Solana Alliance and voted out Sarah, leaving Spencer in the minority once again.

As his allies continued to be voted out, Spencer was frequently targeted by the Solana Alliance, but won three individual Immunity Challenges as well as finding a Hidden Immunity Idol (which he used, but ultimately wasted on Day 28). Additionally, Spencer played on Tony's paranoia, frequently pitting him against his own alliance and resulting in the eliminations of LJ McKanas, Jefra, and Trish Hegarty, allowing him to reach the Final Four. After finally losing immunity to Kass on Day 37, Spencer realized that the season would likely end in a Final Two. He told this to Tony and attempted to convince him to vote against Woo Hwang, whom Spencer believed would take Kass to the Final Tribal Council over Tony. He promised Tony the two would go to the finals together should either of them win the Final Immunity Challenge, if he voted out Woo. In the end though, Tony stuck with Kass and Woo, unanimously voting out Spencer. He became the eighth member of the jury.

At the Final Tribal Council, Spencer criticized Woo for following Tony's every move, comparing Woo to a dog following its master, while praising Tony's game-play. In a similar manner to Survivor: Redemption Island castaway David Murphy, Spencer pleaded with the jury to vote for Tony, whom he felt was the more deserving castaway of the million dollars and the title of Sole Survivor. He cast his vote for Tony who won in a 8-1 vote.

Cambodia

Spencer was one of the twenty castaways chosen by the public to compete on the second chance season, Survivor: Cambodia.

Spencer was apart of the Ta Keo tribe. After they lost the season's first Immunity Challenge, the tribe immediately went to Tribal Council where Spencer joined the new-school players plus Jeff Varner and Peih-Gee Law to blindside Vytas Baskauskas. However, after Ta Keo lost the second Immunity Challenge, both Spencer and Shirin Oskooi became the targets for playing too hard. Despite their damage control efforts with Abi and Woo, Spencer and Shirin were forced to vote against each other. Luckily for Spencer, Shirin was voted out and his second chance continued.

On Day 14, another tribe switch occurred, with Spencer and Kelly switched back to Ta Keo. After they lost the Immunity Challenge, Andrew Savage planned to blindside Spencer by telling him that Ciera Eastin was the target. However, Ciera believed that Andrew was too closely aligned with Woo Hwang and convinced Kass McQuillen and Abi-Maria Gomes to save Spencer and blindside Woo. Kass alerted Spencer about the plan. At Tribal Council, Spencer, Kass, Ciera, and Abi-Maria successfully blindsided Woo.

On Day 29, Spencer won his first individual Immunity Challenge this season. With 8 players remaining, the contestants met their loved ones. Spencer met his girlfriend Marcella and told her he loves her for the first time. After Kelley Wentworth won the Loved Ones Challenge and chose Joe, Abi-Maria, Keith, and Kimmi and their loved ones to join her, Spencer, Tasha, and Jeremy made a final three deal.

Spencer won his second individual Immunity Challenge on Day 35, and third on Day 36. After winning immunity on Day 36, both he and Tasha noticed Kimmi strategizing with Kelley and Keith, so they believed that Kimmi flipped, but Jeremy did not believe them. At Tribal Council, Spencer vocally announced that he, Tasha and Jeremy were sticking together. This prompted Kelley to play her Hidden Immunity Idol, to which Jeremy replied by playing his as well. The idols both negated the three votes cast against them. In the second vote, Spencer, Jeremy, and Tasha voted for Kimmi, and the was tied between Tasha and Kimmi. Then Spencer along with the others told Jeff Probst that they would not change their votes, so then Jeff tells them that if they cannot come to a decision in one minute, Kimmi and Tasha would become immune so Keith will be eliminated by default. Jeremy and Spencer still decided not to change their votes, so this prompted Kelley and Keith to change their votes to Kimmi, thus eliminating her from the game. On Day 37, the main target Kelley won immunity, so Keith was voted out at the subsequent Tribal Council. On Day 38, Jeremy defeated Spencer to win the Final Immunity Challenge. At Tribal Council, Spencer told Jeremy that if he votes him out, he will vote for Kelley to win and make sure she gets enough votes to win. Ultimately Jeremy honored his alliance with Spencer, and Kelley was unanimously voted out.

At the Final Tribal Council, Andrew criticized Spencer for being arrogant during the final four Tribal Council, and Kimmi called him a bully for threatening Jeremy. Spencer ultimately became the co-runner-up of the season along with Tasha, losing to Jeremy in a unanimous 10-0-0 vote.

^1 In You Call, We'll Haul, Kelley used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Spencer's vote against her.^2 In Like Selling Your Soul to the Devil, Jeremy used a Hidden Immunity Idol on Stephen, negating Spencer's vote against him.^3 In Lie, Cheat and Steal, Kelley used a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating Spencer's vote against her. Because Jeremy and Kelley both used Hidden Immunity Idols and negated all the votes cast at Tribal Council, a vote restart was held between all the non-immune players. This vote ended with a 3-3 tie between Kimmi and Tasha, forcing a unanimous decision tiebreaker. Spencer did not change his vote on the tiebreaker.

Post-Survivor

Jeff Probst publicly apologized to Spencer during the CagayanReunion Show for pre-judging him that he would have no chance at the game. Prior to the game, Probst wrote Spencer a note that read, "Spencer, you will not win. - Probst" (the note currently hangs on Spencer's fridge). Probst wrote an apology letter for Spencer on August 9 (around Day 15 or 16, according to Probst), which he mailed to himself from Cagayan and gave to Spencer personally during the reunion.

In both of his seasons, Spencer was the only male member of his original tribe to reach the merge.

Spencer won individual immunity 3 times in both his seasons.

During both pre-merges he went to tribal four times and was immune twice.

Spencer is one of four returning players to be an active player in the finale episode of every season they have competed in, along with Aubry Bracco, Tai Trang, and fellow Cambodia castaway Keith Nale.